MEN'S MINISTRY














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913-948-9701 or
866-915-3548

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Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) is the men's ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are building a dynamic ministry that addresses the needs of men of all ages. Statistics reveal that families and congregations are more likely to thrive when men are actively engaged in their faith.

Mr. Norm Smith
Phone: 913-706-0291
Email: normanlsmith@earthlink.net

For more information, go to the churchwide Lutheran Men in Mission website at www.elca.org/lmm.


Lutheran Men in Mission
BY NORM SMITH, LMM [0410]

Lutheran Men in Mission’s (LMMs) Vision: For every man to have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men’s ministry in every congregation.

I recently returned from a 24-hour prayer retreat which included a period of silence. It was a time for reflection, discernment: refreshing and reenergizing. With our hectic schedules, I hope all of you will make time to attend a prayer retreat that allows you to look at your life and relationship with our gracious God.

In many ways the past few months have been challenging and disturbing times, but at the same time I have seen and heard such exciting news about men’s ministry around our country. With all that is going on I listen to what the Apostle Paul says to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” These are meaningful words that express the way I feel. I would like to briefly highlight three areas with comments; they include:

  • Master Builder Bible – we continue to receive reports on how the Master Builder Bible is being used in congregations to make a difference in the lives of the men and their congregations. I just visited a congregation in a rural area where they have not had an effective men’s ministry for some time; they are joining with three other congregations in their area, two of which are not ELCA, to restart the men’s ministry and make a difference.
  • The One Year To Live (OYTL) Retreats continue with real excitement. We have retreats scheduled in the next few months for Colorado, Nebraska, the Carolinas and Wisconsin. I urge all of you to look at the retreat schedule for consideration for men to attend from your area so you can begin a OYTL team in your region/area. We continue to receive testimonials from the men on the difference the retreats have made in their lives. We also receive similar comments from spouses and other family members; it is so exciting to see this happen!
  • Leadership training – The Building Men for Christ leadership training sessions are being planned around the country; I hope all of you will consider attending one of these training sessions in your area. We have said that this will be the first of several leadership training sessions for men; with that thought, we are beginning to look at next steps for the leadership training series.
  • 2011 Denver LMM Gathering July 22-24 – The planning for the Denver gathering is well underway; it includes a site visit by the Board and the planning team. Please mark these dates on your calendar, so that you and other men from your area can attend. We will provide additional information and early registration will be available in the next two months.

For a current schedule of these events, please visit www.lutheranmeninmission.org and click on the events tab.

I would ask you to keep all of our church leaders in your prayers; rejoice and thank God for all of the positive activities that are changing the lives of many people. If you are able, please send us a contribution so that we can keep our men’s ministry vibrant.

Yours in Christ,
Norm Smith, President
Lutheran Men in Mission
normanlsmith@earthlink.net
913-706-0291


Norm Smith Elected President of Lutheran Men in Mission
TAKEN IN PART FROM ELCA NEWS SERVICE — 080208
OMAHA, Neb. (ELCA) -- Norman L. Smith, Leawood, Kan., was elected Aug. 1 to a three-year term as president of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men’s ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Delegates to LMM’s Eighth Assembly elected four officers and nine regional representatives to the LMM board of directors to three-year terms. LMM’s assembly brought 101 delegates here from across the ELCA to conduct the organization’s business July 31-Aug. 1.

Smith, 69, succeeded Heber Rast, Cameron, S.C., who completed his second three-year term as LMM president and was ineligible for re-election. Smith is a parish ministry associate of the ELCA Central States Synod, specializing in men’s ministry at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kan.

Read the complete story at www.elca.org/news. Click LMM Photo Album for images from the "Coming of Age" event at the Quest Center in Omaha, Neb.